Horse rugs, often an overlooked accessory, play a pivotal role in the wellbeing of our equine friends. These vital pieces serve dual purposes: they offer protection to the horse and provide warmth, ideal during the bitter chills of winter or while undertaking long journeys.
Different Types of Horse Rugs
Our markets today feature an array of horse rugs, each exhibiting unique patterns and designs. This diversity allows you to choose one that best complements the needs of your horse and satisfies your aesthetic preferences.
Materials Used in Horse Rugs
Understanding the fabrics that constitute your horse rug is imperative, as this determines the rug’s functionality. The most common ones available are:
- Jute: Known for their robust nature, these rugs are excellent in providing extra healthful insulation against the cold.
- Wool: Woolen rugs are renowned for their superior warmth and comfort. Their ability to wick moisture away makes them an excellent choice for wet, colder months.
- Linen: Linen rugs are a staple for hotter seasons. Their breathability and lightness make them an optimal choice for comfort during sweltering days.
- Canvas: These are top-choice for durability. Thanks to their robustness, they are perfect for offering protection, particularly when travelling.
- Synthetic Fabrics: These rugs are a modern marvel, packing numerous advantages such as lightweight, durability, and ease of cleaning. Plus, they often come with weather-proof properties.
Remember, the choice of your horse rug should primarily be directed by the needs of your horse—its health and comfort should always be paramount. Happy rug shopping!
Fitting Horse Rugs
Contrary to what some might think, fitting a horse rug is not just about throwing a piece of fabric over the horse’s back. It is an art that requires precision, with a keen eye for detail. When properly fitted, a rug aids in providing effective protection and comfort to a horse, while an ill-fitted rug can lead to discomfort and even cause injuries.
The Importance of Accurate Measurements
Before thrifting or investing in a rug, it’s crucial to understand your horse’s size. A correctly sized rug will not only comfortably fit but also efficiently secure in place, thereby reducing the chances of it slipping off and ripping.
To get accurate measurements, start from the center of the horse’s chest, the area where the rug’s buckle generally rests. Continue measuring back to the quarters, where the rug should adequately cover to provide ample protection. Usually, this would be about 100mm (or 4 inches) from the dock’s root.
Ensuring Comfort and Mobility
In addition to accurate measurements, a rug must provide comfort and not restrict the horse’s movement. Pay attention to the fit around key areas such as withers, as a tight rug can cause sores over time.
If your horse experiences discomfort, particularly around the neck, clever troubleshooting techniques can help. A piece of sheepskin or foam sewn inside the neckpiece might do the trick. Alternatively, attaching thick felt onto the rug lining just below the withers on both sides can help lift the rug just enough to alleviate pressure.
Size Range for Different Horse Breeds
Horse rugs come in various sizes. For full-sized horses, the size range from 1.7 to 2 meters (5 ft 6 in to 6 ft 6 in). For ponies, the rug sizes are typically between 1.25 to 1.6 meters (4 ft to 5 ft 3 in).
Remember, a well-fitted horse rug is not just about aesthetic appeal—it significantly contributes to the horse’s overall comfort, protection, and well-being.
The Importance of Surcingles on Horse Rugs
Surcingles are an essential component of horse rugs, offering additional support and security. These webbing belts, usually measuring 65 to 75 mm (2.5 to 3 inches) in width, are typically sewn onto rugs and serve to keep them firmly in place around the horse’s belly.
Types of Surcingles and Their Proper Placement
Horse rugs commonly come equipped with two surcingles, each playing a critical role in providing comfort and stability.
Front Surcingle
The front surcingle is designed to be padded on both sides of the withers and securely sewn into position. A loop of webbing is left above the spine, sparing the horse from constant pressure on this sensitive area.
Second Surcingle
Positioned farther back on the rug, the second surcingle is equally essential. It does not require tightening to be effective, so it can be sewn on flat, without a loop.
Drawbacks of Rugs with Single Surcingles
While rugs fitted with only one surcingle may be cheaper, they are not ideal for your horse’s comfort and safety. Lacking a wither loop, these rugs can exert undue pressure on the spine, potentially leading to severe spinal injury. Moreover, a single surcingle is less likely to keep the rug secure when the horse lies down or rolls around.
When selecting a horse rug, remember that the wellbeing of your horse is paramount. Opt for rugs that feature proper padding and secure surcingles to ensure the utmost comfort and stability for your equine companion.
Equipping Rugs with Body Rollers
In situations where a horse rug lacks surcingles, body rollers serve as a practical alternative. These versatile and essential components ensure the rug remains securely fastened while also prioritizing the horse’s comfort.
Well-Padded Rollers for Comfort and Safety
To prevent spinal pressure, body rollers should be adequately padded at the top. Alternatively, using a foam rubber pad on either side of the withers can provide much-needed cushioning and protection.
Material and Construction of Body Rollers
Typically, body rollers are constructed with widths ranging from 100 to 125 mm (4 to 5 inches). Common materials used for these rollers include hemp web, wool web, heavy flax, or leather. Equipped with leather fittings, rollers often feature two straps or, when intended for stallions, three straps.
It’s worth noting that while cheaper rollers made of jute may be available, they are not the most durable choice.
When selecting body rollers for your horse, remember that quality and comfort are crucial in ensuring your horse’s well-being. Pairing adequate padding with sturdy materials and proper construction will significantly contribute to your horse’s comfort and safety while wearing the rug.
Arch Rollers (Anti-Cast Rollers)
Arch rollers, also known as anti-cast rollers, form a crucial part of a horse’s rug. Designed to prevent spinal pressure, these specialized rollers employ innovative strategies to ensure your horse’s safety and comfort during wear.
The Unique Design of Arch Rollers
Unlike regular rollers, arch rollers feature wither pads joined together by a curved metal tube. This innovative design prevents a horse from rolling and becoming cast in the stable—a risky situation where a horse could end up on its back and be unable to rise due to limited space.
Versatile Fitting with Hinged Arch Rollers
To cater to the diverse sizes of horses, some arch rollers come with a special feature: hinges on either side of the arch. This allows the roller to adjust its width, ensuring a perfect fit on any horse.
When choosing an arch roller, understanding its design and utility can significantly contribute to safeguarding your horse’s health and comfort. A quality arch roller, particularly with hinged sides, will provide excellent fit and protection to keep your horse safe and comfortable in the stable.
Integrating Roller and Breastgirth
To enhance the stability and security of a horse’s rug, it is recommended to fit a breastgirth. This addition prevents rollers or unsewn surcingles from slipping backward and causing discomfort to the horse.
Securing Proper Positioning with Breastgirths
A correctly positioned roller or surcingle is essential for ensuring the comfort and safety of a horse. When a breastgirth is employed, it effectively stops the roller or surcingle from shifting out of place. This additional security is particularly crucial for sensitive horses that can be easily upset by a misplaced roller.
Incorporating a breastgirth into your horse’s rug setup is a wise measure to maintain the correct positioning of rollers or surcingles. Doing so will not only protect the horse’s comfort but also ensure its overall well-being.
Breast Fastenings
Breast fastenings, which are fundamental components of horse rugs, manifest usually as buckles that are installed either singly or in pairs. They provide critical support, ensuring rugs stay securely on the horse.
Adjustable Breast Fastenings
The most versatile breast fastenings are those that can be adjusted. They can accommodate both narrow and wide necks, providing an ideal fit for any horse. However, it’s worth noting that these adjustable types are not as commonly available.
Alternative Fastening Types
In addition to standard buckles, other types of fastenings also exist. These include self-adhesive tapes or double-ring fasteners. While different in their mechanisms, these alternatives generally offer good security and ease of maintenance.
Understanding the diverse options for breast fastenings will help you choose the most suitable one for your horse. The priority should always be a snug fit, durability, and ease of maintenance to ensure the optimal comfort and safety of your horse.
Utilizing Fillet Strings on Horse Rugs
Fillet strings, also known as tail strings, enhance the stability and security of horse rugs. Many rugs come with these handy components or feature eyelets designed to accommodate them.
Materials and Purpose of Fillet Strings
Constructed from colored braided cotton or thin leather, fillet strings serve as a valuable addition to horse rugs. They are positioned around the horse’s quarters, slightly above the hocks, and under the tail. This strategic placement helps prevent the rug from sliding forward or flying up, ensuring a secure and comfortable fit for the horse.
Incorporating fillet strings into your horse’s rug setup contributes to maintaining the rug’s proper positioning and stability. This results in improved comfort and safety for your horse during wear.
Stable Rug (Night Rug or Jute Rug)
Among horse rugs, the stable rug — often referred to as the ‘jute rug’ due to its common material — is typically the one that endures the hardest wear. Its design and materials are attuned to its strenuous daily usage.
Materials and Durability of Stable Rugs
Most frequently, stable rugs are constructed from jute. Lower-priced options may be made from lightweight jute and are often only half-lined. In contrast, the most durable versions are made from heavy jute or finely-woven canvas. These top-tier rugs are fully lined with blanketing, offering resistance against rotting and tearing. With proper care, they can bear regular washes and wear exceptionally well over time.
Synthetic and Quilted Materials in Stable Rugs
The advancement in textiles has seen an uptake in the use of synthetic and quilted materials for stable rugs. These rugs are valued for their lightness, ease of washing, and their ability to provide ample warmth and strength. Some designs even allow air to circulate through them, enhancing the comfort of the horse.
Given the stable rug’s durability and versatility, it can be used both night and day, making it the most useful general-purpose rug for horse owners.
Under-Blankets
During winter, the addition of an under-blanket beneath the stable rug is necessary to provide extra warmth to the horse. Traditionally designed in fawn color adorned with side stripes, under-blankets are an essential component of a horse’s winter gear.
Quality and Durability of Under-Blankets
High-quality under-blankets are often made from heavy wool, weighing between 3 to 3.5 kg (or approximately 7 to 8 pounds). While these blankets might come with a higher price tag, their warmth and superior tendency to withstand stable wear make them a worthwhile investment.
The Rise of Synthetic Fleece Under-Blankets
Alongside traditional wool designs, specially fitted under-blankets made from synthetic fleece are becoming increasingly popular. These modern variants typically offer excellent stability, staying firmly in place. They also provide ample warmth and the added feature of being easy to wash.
Choosing the right under-blanket can add an extra layer of comfort during the colder months and contribute to maintaining the health and well-being of your horse.
Day Rugs
Day rugs are specially designed for horse owners who wish to keep their horses looking smart while in the stable, during transportation, or at shows. Typically similar in shape and size to stable rugs, these woollen day rugs are available in various colors with matching bindings.
Customization and Detailing
A distinctive feature of day rugs is the owner’s initials, which are usually displayed on the rear corners of the rug. This adds a personal touch and makes it easy to identify a specific horse owner’s equipment.
Additional Accessories
Day rugs often come equipped with a braided fillet string looped around the quarters and a roller made from wool webbing. To provide extra warmth during transportation, some day rugs may include a matching hood. This hood is designed with eye holes and covers the head, neck, and ears of the horse, ensuring a comfortable and stylish experience.
Summer Sheet
During hot weather, horse owners may choose to use a summer sheet made of cotton or linen instead of a day rug. This lightweight sheet serves to protect groomed horses from dust and flies without offering warmth.
Features of Summer Sheets
Summer sheets are designed with specific features like fillet strings and surcingles or rollers. Their primary purpose is to ensure that your horse stays comfortable and clean in warmer climates while being shielded from the annoyance of flying insects.
New Zealand Rug
The New Zealand rug is a highly specialized horse accessory designed specifically for outdoor use. Built with durable, waterproof materials like canvas or flax, this rug is suitable for horses in the field even during winter.
Importance of Correct Fitting
Ensuring the proper fit of a New Zealand rug is crucial because the horse will wear it both day and night, often with infrequent checks. Taking special care to prevent chafing at the withers, shoulders, breast, and between the hind legs is essential for the horse’s comfort.
Unique Fastening Features
New Zealand rugs have adjustable straps that cross between the hind legs to keep the rug in place while the horse moves freely. These straps should be long enough to avoid chafing, but not so long that they pose a tripping risk. Some rugs also have straps near the forelegs and one or more fastenings across the breast.
Surcingles and Air Flow
Although many New Zealand rugs are equipped with a surcingle, it is important not to make it too tight, as that could impede airflow along the back, leading to condensation and chills. High-quality rugs are often secure enough without the need for a surcingle.
Maintenance of Outdoor Rugs
Routine upkeep of New Zealand rugs is essential to prolong their life and functionality. Leather straps should remain supple to prevent chafing and breakage, and fastening hooks must be oiled to avoid rust. Any canvas tears should be repaired promptly.
Optional Waterproof Hood
For added protection, a waterproof hood can be used with a New Zealand rug. Covering the entire length of the head, the hood typically overlaps the rug up to the withers and is secured with buckles or clips.
Anti-Sweat Sheet (Sweat Rug)
The anti-sweat sheet is designed to be used on horses after work or when traveling, providing insulation to help them cool off without becoming chilled, particularly in the loin area. These sheets are made of open cotton mesh and function similarly to a string vest worn under a shirt.
Benefits During Travel and Stable Use
An anti-sweat sheet helps to prevent the horse from sweating during transportation, which can lead to losing condition. When used in the stable, it insulates the horse against both cold and heat.
Proper Usage
To maximize its effectiveness, an anti-sweat sheet should be worn underneath a top rug or sheet. This will allow the insulating air pockets to form properly, providing the desired temperature regulation for your horse.
Other Protective Clothing
In addition to the regular stable clothing, racing clothing options like quarter sheets, breastplates, light-weight rollers, breastcloths and hoods may be used, often designed in the owner’s racing colors. For home exercising, special sheets are available.
Quarter Sheet (Paddock Sheet)
Quarter sheets are typically made of wool or linen. These sheets, with no front fastening, are designed to end mid-shoulder and curve back towards the withers, held in place by a breastplate often made from the same material. Leather straps at either side of the withers can accommodate a breastcloth.
Breastcloth
The breastcloth, made from the same material as the rug, provides warmth to the front of the chest, wrapping up the neck on either side of the shoulders. It is secured by the buckle-and-strap attachments on the quarter sheet, with the bottom aligned with the quarter rug’s bottom.
Exercise Sheet (Galloping Sheet)
An exercise sheet, shaped like a quarter sheet, is placed under the saddle during work to keep the horse’s loins warm. A fillet string is added to prevent it from flapping up and startling the horse.
These sheets are usually made of wool, but a rubberized shower-proof option is now available. This material is windproof, dries quickly, and is more effective than wool at addressing excessive sweating, making it a feasible option when used on multiple horses.
Correct fitting is essential for an exercise sheet; otherwise, it will slide under the saddle. The front corners should be folded upwards, forming a triangle, and then held in place by the girth and saddle panels.
Jowl Sweater
Jowl sweaters are beneficial for sweating off surplus fat from the throat area, especially beneficial for show horses and ponies that might have flexion problems. These hoods with ear holes are typically made of felt, lined with oilskin, plastic, or another waterproof material.
Rug Sense
Proper care and attention to details when it comes to horse rugs are essential for the well-being, comfort, and safety of your horse.
Clipped Horses and Cold Weather
During cold weather, horses with clipped coats should wear a jute rug for added protection and warmth.
Regular Check-Ups for Outdoor Rugs
If a horse is wearing a New Zealand rug outdoors, make sure to check and straighten the rug at regular intervals to maintain proper fit and function.
Monitoring Fastenings
Regularly inspect fastenings, such as buckles, on the rug to detect any signs of wear and tear. Addressing these issues promptly protects your horse from discomfort and potential injuries.
Preventing Neck Irritation
Most rugs can potentially irritate the top of a horse’s neck. Sewing a piece of felt or sheepskin inside the rug where it rests on the neck can help prevent this issue and provide added comfort for your horse.
